Normal life in Manipur paralysed in strike against MLA

The normal life in Manipur was paralysed today in the 17-hour strike called by a student body for removal of an MLA from the post of parliamentary secretary as he allegedly did not hail from the state.
Major markets across the state remained closed and all forms of passenger transport services came to a grinding halt.
No untoward incident, however, was reported from any part of the state during the general strike.
Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) had called the strike from midnight yesterday demanding that the MLA be removed from his post and his portfolios withdrawn.
MLA Ashab Uddin, who is among the newly-inducted 12 parliamentary secretaries, has been given the portfolio of commerce and industries.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh told newsmen during the day said the demand was not legitimate as Ashab Uddin is an Indian who had contested the panchayat polls twice and has been elected as a representative by the people of Jiribam constituency in the March election.

"The government is helpless in this matter," he said before leaving for New Delhi.
The MLA had maintained his family traces its origin in the state since 1906.
DESAM had also said it will intensify its agitation if the ministerial portfolio of Ashab Uddin was not withdrawn.